Electric connectors intended particularly to be used in a liquid medium particularly under pressure

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to improvements to electric connectors particularly intended to be used in a liquid medium. Both elements (A,B) of the connector comprise respectively insulating bodies (8,20) carrying the contacts (9,21) and surrounded, in their front parts, by sleeves (14,24); two ring seals (25,26) are brought on those sleeves on either side of the interface (15,22) of the two insulating bodies and insulate said insulating bodies from the surrounding liquid.

The present invention relates to improvements to electric connectors,intended particularly to be used in a liquid medium, formed from twoconnector elements removably coupable within the liquid medium andhaving respective electric contacts, the connector elements comprisingrespectively a cylindrical case supporting therein an insulating bodywhich encloses said contacts.

The insulating body disposed inside the cylindrical case of eachconnector element is generally made from a relatively resilientsynthetic material, such as an elastomer, which is electricallyinsulating: this insulating body is then adapted for mechanicallysupporting the electric contacts of said connector element whileproviding mutual electrical insulation of these contacts.

Now, the elastomers usually used for the application envisaged arerapidly damaged when they are held in contact with liquids, andparticularly with sea water; the result is an impairment of theresistivity of the insulating body and a reduction of the betweencontact insulation resulting in electric leaks.

The invention has then essentially as its aim to remedy thisdisadvantage and to provide an electric connector which satisfies betterthan in the past the different requirements of practice, in particularin so far as its use in a liquid medium is concerned more especially inan under sea medium.

To this end, it is provided in accordance with the invention that, in anelectric connector of the above mentioned kind, a rigid cylindricalsleeve surrounds at least the front part of each insulated body, thatthe two sleeves belonging respectively to the two connector elementshave substantially the same transverse dimensions, more especially thesame diameter, and are positioned axially on the respective insulatingbodies so that, in the connection position of the two connectorelements, they are substantially end to end, that insulating means areprovided so that the mutual electric insulation of the contacts isprovided during connection of the two connector elements, and that oneof the connector elements (first connector element) has a ring externalto the corresponding sleeve and axially movable, under the action ofcontrol means, towards the other connector element (second connectorelement) during the operation for coupling the two connector elementstogether, this ring being provided in its inner face with two annularseals spaced apart axially from each other by a distance such that, andthe axial travel of the ring being such that, when the connectorelements are not coupled together and when the ring is retracted intothe first connector element, the annular seals bear on the correspondingsleeve whereas, when the two connector elements are coupled together andwhen the ring is in the projecting position, said ring then surrounds afront axial portion of the sleeve of the second connector element andthe two annular seals bear respectively against the two rigid sleeves.

Thus, when the two connector elements are coupled together, the twoannular seals sealingly surround the two rigid sleeves while beingsituated on each side of the cooperating front faces of the twoconnector elements. Thus, these seals provide sealing insulation ofthese cooperating front faces (faces whch are formed essentially by thefront faces of the respective insulating bodies of the two connectorelements) with respect to the remaining parts of the connector, whichare in general bathed in the surrounding liquid medium. In other words,these seals prevent the insulating bodies from being in permanentcontact with the surrounding liquid when the two connector elements arecoupled to one another and they contribute to maintaining theelectrically insulating properties of said bodies.

It is more particularly advantageous to associate with the precedingarrangements, complementary arrangements consisting in said insulatingmeans comprising, in one of the connector elements, truncated coneshaped bosses provided on the front face of the insulating body and atthe front end of which appear respectively the front ends of thecorresponding contacts and, in the other connector element, truncatedcone shaped recesses formed in the front face of the insulating body andat the bottom of which appear respectively the front ends of thecorresponding contacts, the bosses and the recesses having respectivelycomplementary shapes such that, in the coupling position of the twoconnector elements, the recesses sealingly surround the bosses.

Thus, when coupling of the two connector elements takes place within aliquid medium, contacting then maintenance in abutment of the frontfaces of the two insulating bodies having respectively truncated coneshaped bosses and truncated cone shaped recesses ensure that the liquidis driven from between the cooperating front faces and that noappreciable amount of said liquid will remain in contact with theinsulating bodies when the two connector elements are coupled together.Such a result is easily obtained if the two insulating bodies are heldin abutment against each other by their front faces under the action ofan abutting force.

Preferably, in an interesting embodiment because of its simplicity ofdesign and handling, the means controlling the axial movement of themobile ring are formed by a locking ring carried by the first connectorelement and providing, in a way known per se, locking of the mechanicalcoupling of the two connector elements.

In the case where the connector of the invention is intended to be usedin a liquid medium under pressure, it is desirable for the ring bearingthe annular joints to form an integral part of the case of the firstconnector element, these means being preferably hydraulic means such asan oil bath subjected to the external pressure and in contact with theinsulating body.

The invention will be better understood from reading the detaileddescription which follows of a preferred embodiment given solely by wayof non limiting example; in the description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings in which FIGS. 1 and 2 are views in axial sectionof a connector arranged in accordace with the invention, respectively intwo different positions (respectively non coupled position and coupledposition).

In the following description, by front end or front face (or front) of aconnector element will be designated the end or the face of this elementadapted for cooperating with the facing end or face of the otherconnector element, and by rear end or rear face (or rear) the end or theface of said element opposite the preceding one.

With reference first of all to FIG. 1, the connector is formed from afirst connector element A, or male element which, in the embodimentshown, may be considered as fixed, and a second connector element B, orfemale element, which may be considered as movable or mobile.

Element A comprises an external protecting case 1, having a shapecylindrical in revolution, adapted externally in its rear part, forallowing element A to be fixed to a wall 2 (shoulder 3, external thread4 and locking ring 5) and, in its front part, so as to allow mechanicalcoupling with element B (thread 6).

On the inside, element A is adapted so as to receive successively (fromthe rear to the front): an abutment plate 7; an insulating body 8 madefrom elastomer supporting, in any appropriate way known by a man skilledin the art, male type electric contacts 9 (pins) whose pins forconnecting to the electric conductors (not shown) pass through plate 7;a locking ring 10 surrounding an axial part of the insulating body; andfinally, a threaded ring 11 screwed inside case 1 and holding theassembly of assembled parts in position by bearing on the bearingsurfaces.

Furthermore, it will be noted that seals are provided, on the one hand,between case 1 and wall 2 on which element A is mounted and, on theother hand, between locking ring 10 and case 1. Furthermore, the lockingring 10 has an annular portion 12 offset radially towards the insidewhereas the insulating body 8 has an annular skirt 13 which, in themounting position of the assembly, is compressed between said annularportion 12 and the inner face of case 1.

The locking ring 10 extends forwardly, by an annular zone in the form ofa sleeve 14 situated immediately behind the front face 15 of theinsulating body 8 and whose role will be explained subsequently.

Finally, the front face 15 of the insulating body 8 has truncated coneshaped bosses 16 surrounding each of the contacts 9, only the pin shapedend of which projects.

Element B also comprises a cylindrical case 17 adapted externally so asto be coupled with the case 1 of element A: for this purpose it issurrounded by a rotary locking ring 18, threaded internally, (forcooperating with the front threaded part of the case 1) and comprisesone or more external guide keys 19 for fool proof fitting adapted toslide in grooves 19a formed on the inside of case 1.

Inside case 17 of element B, an insulating body 20, locked rearwardly bya bearing plate 20a, carries, in any way known per se, female typeelectric contacts 21 (sockets). The front parts (sockets) of thesecontacts do not open directly into the front face 22 of the insulatingbody 20 but at the bottom of trucated cone shaped recesses 23 in theform of funnels which are formed in said front face 22 and which have ashape complementary to that of the bosses 16 of the insulating body 8 ofelement A.

A sleeve 24 surrounds the front axial part of the insulating body 20immediately behind its front face. This sleeve 24 is surrounded by two Osleeves 25, 26, spaced axially apart from each other and housed ingrooves formed in the inner surface of case 17. In addition, on theinternal face of case 17 there is a shoulder 27 situated behind seal 26whereas the outer surface of the insulating body 20 has an annularprojection 28 forming, towards the front, a shoulder adapted forcooperating with the shoulder 27. A spiral spring 29 surrounds theinsulating body 20 behind the annular projection 28 and is compressedbetween said projection at the front and a fixed supporting surfaceintegral with case 17 at the rear.

When the connector which has just been described is intended to be usedin a liquid medium under pressure, for example in an under sea medium,means are provided, at the rear end of element B, for compensating thepressure that the liquid medium exerts on the component parts of theelement, and in particular on the front face of the insulating body.This compensation means may for example, in a way known per se, be anoil bath, subjected to the external pressure, filling the space 30situated at the rear of the insulating body 20 and through which passthe pins of contact 20 and the conductors which are connected thereto.

Finally, it will be noted that there is provided, for each element A andB, a closure cap (not shown) which is positioned on the front of theelement and which is adapted so as to present the same configuration asthe complementary element so that, when elements A and/or B are immersedin an uncoupled position for a relatively long period of time, theinsulating bodies 8 and/or 20 are not left in contact with the ambientliquid.

The operation of the connector of the invention is as follows.

With elements A and B uncoupled they are presented, equipped with theirprotecting cap, face to face in the suitable angular position determinedby the keys 19 and the corresponding grooves 19a.

After removal of the protecting caps, the two elements are fitted oneinto the other and the locking ring 18 of element b is rotated so as toscrew it onto the case 1 of element A. The result is an axialrectilinear movement of element B in the direction of element A, duringwhich space 31, filled with liquid, defined by the facing walls ofelements A and B reduces in volume, the liquid driven out leaving by theclearances existing between the members (more especially between ring 18and cases 1 and 17) and possibly through discharge holes 32 provided inthe wall of case 1 in front of the insulating body 8.

During this movement, the truncated cone shaped studs 16 surrounding themale contacts 9 penetrate into the truncated cone shaped recesses 33preceding the female contacts 21 (FIG. 1) while progressively drivingout the liquid which is situated therein, and they completely occupythese recesses at the time when the front faces 15 and 22 of the twoinsulating bodies 8 and 20, respectively, are in abutment against eachother (see FIG. 2).

With the insulating body 20 of element B now fixed with respect toelement A, case 17 of element B is disengaged from the insulating body20 and continues its travel alone, under the driving action of ring 18,so as to reach the coupling position shown in FIG. 2.

In this position, the annular seal 25 sealingly surrounds the sleeve 14of the insulating body 8 of element A, whereas the annular seal 26sealingly surrounds the sleeve 24 of the insulating body 20 of elementB. Thus, the interface 15-22 of the two abutting insulating bodies 8 and20 is sealingly insulated from the pressurized liquid in which theconnector is plunged.

Since moreover, the practically complementary shape of the front faces15 and 22 and the mutual resilient abutment of the two insulating bodiesunder the force exerted by the pressurized spring 29 have causedpractically complete elimination of the liquid at the level of interface15/22, no appreciable amount of liquid remains, in the couplingposition, in contact with the insulating bodies and thus the risk of anelectric insulating defect between contacts is avoided which priorconnectors could present in the long run.

Further, in the disconnected position of the connector, the surroundingpressurized liquid exerts a lateral compression on the insulating body20 of element B (arrows 33), on the one hand, and on the insulating body8 (arrows 34) and the truncated cone shaped studs 16 (arrows 35) ofelement A, on the other hand. This compression applies the elastomerforming the insulating bodies against contacts 9 and 21 and is added tothe elastic nipping of the elastomer on these contacts due to theshrinkage undergone by the elastomer during polymerization thereofduring manufacture of the insulating body. Thus a sealed connection isobtained between the elastomer and the contacts, and the pressurizedliquid cannot rise up along the contacts and come into the rear zone ofelements A and B.

As is evident and as it follows moreover already from what has gonebefore, the invention is in no wise limited to those of its modes ofapplication and embodiments which have been more especially cnsidered;it embraces, on the contrary, all variations thereof.

We claim:
 1. An electrical connector, particularly intended to be usedin a liquid medium over a long time period, comprising first and secondconnector elements adapted to be removably coupled together within theliquid medium in a first, connected position thereof;said firstconnector element including a plurality of male electrical contactswhich are supported in a corresponding insulating body and which arepartially surrounded with truncated cone shaped bosses projecting asubstantial distance outwardly from the front face of the correspondinginsulating body; said second connector element including a likeplurality female electrical contacts which are supported in acorresponding insulating body and which open at the bottom of a likeplurality of truncated cone shaped recesses formed in the front face ofthe corresponding insulating body; resilient means provided in at leastone connector element and disposed in relationship with respect to thecorresponding insulating body of that connector element so as tocontinuously push the corresponding insulating body forward; first andsecond cylindrical rigid sleeves respectively provided around at leastthe front parts of said insulating bodies of said first and secondconnectors, said sleeves having substantially the same transversedimensions and being so axially positioned that, in the connectionposition of the two connector elements, the sleeves are in substantiallyend to end relationship; one of said connector elements including a ringdisposed so as to surround the corresponding sleeve of that connectorelement and being axially movable under control of a control means, saidring including two internal annular seals and said seals being spacedaxially apart from each other by such a distance that, and the axialtravel of said ring being such that, when the connector elements are notcoupled together and thus the insulating body of the connector elementincluding the ring is retracted into that connector element, both saidannular seals surround only the corresponding sleeve of that connectorelement whereas, when the two connector elements are coupled togetherand thus the insulating body of the connector member including the ringis in the connection position, said ring overlaps the front parts of thesleeves of both connector elements and the two annular seals surroundrespective ones of the two sleeves on each side of the interface betweenthe
 2. The electric connector according to claim 1, characterized inthat means for controlling the axial movement of the movable ringcomprises a locking ring carried by the second connector element andproviding locking of the mechanical coupling between the two connectorelements.
 3. The electric connector according to claim 1, characterizedin that the ring including the annular seals forms an integral part of acase of the second connector element.
 4. The electric connectoraccording to claim 1, intended to be used in a liquid medium underpressure, characterized in that a rear case of the first connectorelement includes axial pressure compensating means.
 5. The electricconnector according to claim 4, characterized in that the axial pressurecompensating means comprises hydraulic means.